Perhaps that is because people try to rationalize something that ultimately does not need rationalization - the will or command of God.

We can make lots of arguments for and against things, some of which will speak to some people and some which will speak to other people.

But the arguments are human creations.

The only arguments that are above that are those from Allah swt himself, in Qur'an, or given by Allah swt to His Prophet (saw) etc.

Sister-scorpion - good points. good brain ya got on you! ;-)

Since this is a tafakur list, I have to, uh, play the devil's advocate. I just can't help it but tell me this:

"God elevates the dignity of a woman's body by commanding that it be respected and covered"

So men's body is disrespected because their dress code is different?

I have some other points to make on this article, but in the end, it reads very similar to many other articles I've read on the subject in the past. It's interesting, some of the arguments are certainly compelling, but in the end, I can't help but see that some of the statements can easily be turned around and argued the other direction...

if a non-hijabi can speak ... i actually agree. :) obviously i do not wear a hijab, but i do believe that external and internal struggles are related and that it should not only start from the inside. quitting drugs, avoiding porn, being chaste, these are necessarily inner AND outer... and both are equally difficult.

I agree that we shouldn't wait to develop an inner quality before adopting its external counterpart. To the contrary, our Islamic sources from hadith and Qur'an tell us the opposite - adopt the external quality and it will help you to develop the internal one!

You don't have to be perfect before you put on hijab, get up for fajr, keep a beard, stop listening to haram music and eating haram food, etc.

Rather, you do these things without being perfect but doing so helps you to get better. If you just wait to get better without doing anything external, you'll never get there (imho).

Well MuslimGuy 23 I agree there are different aspects of hijab and in true sense it includes the way you think, talk, behave as well as what you wear. AND IT APPLIES EQUALLY TO MEN.
But i dont agree that you wait to achieve the inner hijab....as thats a life long struggle. And the external hijab reminds you and those around you of who you are
and helps you in that struggle.

Masha'allah......very eye opening article.....very well worded. I couldn't agree more with every word mentioned above....But we must remember that Islam is not only about hijab. The real hijab lies within each person's heart and eyes....it is only then when we have mastered that true "inner" hijab that we should take on the responsibility of donning the "external" hijab....

In actuality our women who wear hijab are what I like to refer to as the true "flag bearers" of Islam. They are the one's who carry the religion with them on display for all to see, and to them I say may Allah (swt) increase you in strength and dignity.

Iman thanks for bringing the life back to this village. :) Its an inspiring article. By the way sometime you give very funny names to different things like "head gear". :)

Its beautiful and inspiring!Thanks for sharing.

thanx iman. never heard it called "headgears"! lol. :) i love scarves - i have a ton - esp pashmina. i just dont wear them. :) my mom had a great collection - she wore them around her shoulders mainly or to cover her hair if she was out in the cold or wind.

Mysticlvr U sound v right but I am trying absorb your perspective into my v tired brain.....
By the way anyone wanting to experiment with headgears I found headcovers.com an interesting website, they have some gorgeous italian scarves as well as other forms of head covering.

very well written. I like this: "My value as a woman is not measured by the size of my waist or the number of men who like me. My worth as a human being is measured on a higher scale: a scale of righteousness and piety. And my purpose in life-despite what the fashion magazines say-is something more sublime than just looking good for men. " It is very true, but what is true is, sadly, not realized here that often... and it goes both ways. men are more than money, security, safety, etc. and women are more than cooks, maids and bodies. we each are more than what makes us up physically and we all know that, but rarely do we act like it. people go find jobs that make the most money, rather than those where they could do the most good, help the most people, use their skills the best, be happiest, etc. We buy nice houses and water our lawns and watch "reality tv" while our kids learn to play using computers and x-box and our books are only decoration for our shelves. What she says is true, we are more than what is on the outside, but we have to act like it in order for others to see it too.